Explosive compound



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

MAX TSOHIRNER, OF SAN FRANGISGO, CALIFORNIA.

EXPLOSIYVE COMPOUND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,381, da.tedSeptember 21, 1880.

Application filed May IB, 1880. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may con ern Be it known that I, MAX TsoHIRNER,a citizenof the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the coun'tyof SanFrancisco and State of California, have discovered a new and usefulExplosive Compound, of which the following is a specification.

The base of my compound is composed of picric acid. This in itself isnot explosive; but by the addition of other substances or ingredientswhich easily yield oxygen-such as chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates,mangamates, and permanganates, or other fusible .chlorates which yieldoxygen by decomposition-the carbon of the picric acid is changed or.transformed all at once into carbonic acid,

and the explosion effected instantaneously and with great effect; hencemy invention or discovery consists in the combination of picric acidwith an oxidizing agent, of which elements or ingredients I preferchlorate of pot ash, as this chemical is generally to be had in largequantities and at a reasonable price.

The proportion of the aboveingredients will vary according to the effectdesired, the picric acid being, however, always a base, or in excess ofthe chlorate of potash or other oxidiz ing agent.

lhe following formula of one hundred (100) parts will be sutficientlyexplicit to enable those skilledih the art to manufacture my explosivecompound, to wit:

Fifty-seven (57) parts of picric acid and forty-three (43) parts ofchlorate ot'potash will give seventy-four and eighttcnths (74 per cent.of explosive force.

The relative proportions of the above ingredients may, of course, bevaried within a suitable range according to the effect desired,

as the larger the quantity of picric acid employed the greater will bethe explosive force of the compound. I

The process of man ufacturing my explosive compound is as follows, towit: The ingredients are first reduced to a fine powder by a separatetrituration, after which they are well incorporated together, with theaddition of about five (5) per cent. of pulverized rosin. I thensprinkle the product. with a suflicient quantity of benzine,kerosene-oil, or other fluid to moisten it, which will readily dissolvethe rosin and pass off quickly duringthe opera-- tion of stirring themass, which agitation should be constantLy kept up, or until theevaporation of the benzine takes place and the compound becomes aplastic mass easily molded. .L then press it into cartridges ofsufficient size by packing it in molds or cylinders. By thismeans, also,the cartridge is rendered impervious to the action of wet or moisture,the rosin and benzine or coal-oil forming a coatin g or protection whichenables me to explode the cartridge under water.

The value of my invention or discovery is evinced in and by thefollowing statem.ent that is to say, the uniting of only two ingredientswhich, in themselves or taken separately, are inexplosive, and when sounited or compounded will explode with great force and effect only bymeans of fire or a very strong percussion,'such as a percussion-cap.

The compound is not dangerous to manufacture or handle at a temperatureless than that of 212 Fahrenheit, and, furthermore, it will not beaffected by cold, like nitroglycerine, and, lastly, in exploding, thepresence of noxious or injurious gases is not to be found, which latterfact makes my compound more desirable for mining purposes or undergroundwork than other high explosives.

I am aware that picric acid has been used in the manufacture ofexplosive compounds by impregnating sawdust with about two (2) per cent.of picric acid and two (2) per cent. of nitrate of potash in solution,to which were afterward added other gas producing and earthy substances.I am also aware that the picrates and chlorate of potash have been usedin: the manufacture of explosive compounds. These, however, I do notclaim; but

What I claim as my inventionor discovery is The explosive compoundherein described, consisting of picric acid and chlorate. of pot ash, inabout the proportions specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 4th day of May, 1880.

MAX TSGHIRNER.

Witnesses:

